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CIS · Certified Instrument Specialist
Pass the CIS — or get every dollar back. Guaranteed.
Don't pass? Standard refunds you — and SurePass pays your $140 retake fee
Know exactly what to study, when to study it, and the moment you're ready to sit.
From $59 · Starter, Standard or SurePass
- 602 exam-style questions, every one with a written explanation
- Every flashcard deck on spaced repetition — what you miss comes back sooner
- A readiness score that tells you when you're actually ready to sit
- Works offline — study anywhere, no signal needed
What’s inside your study portal
The full CIS Fast Track Study System.
One system, paced to your exam date. Every practice question, every flashcard deck, full-length mocks, narrated audio, Miles the AI tutor and the whole study guide — every pass opens all of it; Standard carries the Money-Back Guarantee and SurePass the SurePass Guarantee.
- Every practice question — Tutor, Timed and Quiz modes — and every flashcard deck
- Full-length mock exams, narrated audio on every chapter, and Miles, the AI tutor
- Your CIS cheat sheet — the highest-yield facts as a PDF, instant to download
- The whole study guide — every chapter, not a preview — as the depth behind the questions
- Your readiness meter and study plan, paced to your exam date, on every device
The Capital Prep Method
What to study, when to study it & the exact moment you're ready.
Cut out the months of studying you don't need. CIS prep that adapts every day — no guessing what to do next.
SurePass readiness
A readiness score built from your own answers — not a progress bar. It moves as you answer, and recent work counts most.
Anywhere Mode · Study from your pocket
Ten minutes of scrolling — or ten minutes closer to passing.
Your phone is already in your hand. Two taps, no signal needed.
- Quick Ten — One tap. Ten questions, with the rationale on every one.
- It downloads itself — No button, no setup, nothing to remember.
- No bars? Still works — Airplane mode, the subway, a cabin in the woods.
- Nothing gets lost. Ever. — Saves as you tap, syncs when you're back.
Flashcards and practice questions work offline. The study guide, audio and full-length mocks need a connection.
Flashcards that work offline
Before you decide how to study
More than 1 in 3fail the CIS exam
It has been higher every year since 2019, and has not come back down in five years.
Source: HSPA’s own published certification statistics (as of Dec. 31, 2025).
That is exactly why we guarantee it.
Pass the CIS — or get your money back.
- Standard and SurePass: full refund if you don't pass — plus 90 more days of access on Standard, another year on SurePass, free.
- SurePass: we also pay your $140 HSPA retake fee.
- Starter: no refund — don't pass, and you get 30 more days of access, free.
From $59 · Starter, Standard or SurePass
What you get with each CIS pass
Every pass includes the full study system. Only the length of access and the guarantee change.
Starter
7-day sprint
7 days of access
One-time payment
Less than the HSPA retake fee ($140)
No money back — upload your score report and we add the days.
- Money back
- Retake fee paid
- 30 more days free if you don't pass
One payment · no subscription · secure checkout by Stripe
See all study materials included
Click any feature to see it.
Standard
A month of study
30 days of access
One-time payment
Less than the HSPA retake fee ($140)
Don't pass? Full refund — and 90 more days of access, free.
- Money back
- Retake fee paid
- 90 more days free if you don't pass
One payment · no subscription · secure checkout by Stripe
See all study materials included
Click any feature to see it.
SurePass
The guarantee
1 year of access
One-time payment
Less than the HSPA retake fee ($140)
Don't pass? Full refund, your $140 retake fee paid — and another year of access, free.
- Money back
- Retake fee paid
- Another year free if you don't pass
One payment · no subscription · secure checkout by Stripe
See all study materials included
Click any feature to see it.
- Instant access
- Full study system with every pass
Don't pass? Standard refunds you. SurePass also pays your retake fee. Terms apply
Questions before you choose? Ask an advisor →
CIS · Features and Pricing
How Capital Prep compares
Tap any i to learn more about a feature.
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Competitor prices read Aug 2026 — check before you buy. Trademarks are their owners'; Capital Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by HSPA.
Worried about how you'll do on the CIS?
Talk to an advisor.
Ask about the guarantee, which pass fits, or how the study system works. We read every message and reply within a few hours.
We'll reply by email within a few hours.or chat with us now
Questions, answered
What's inside the study portal?
The full Fast Track Study System — every practice question, every flashcard deck, full-length mock exams, narrated audio, Miles the AI tutor, and the entire study guide, every chapter readable and highlightable. The cheat sheet — the highest-yield facts as a PDF — is in the study portal on every pass, with instant access to download it. Every pass opens all of it; Standard carries the Money-Back Guarantee and SurePass the SurePass Guarantee.
Do I need my CRCST first?
Yes — HSPA requires a current CRCST to sit the CIS, plus 200 hours of hands-on experience in a sterile processing department. If you passed your CRCST with us, everything you learned there carries straight over.
How does the SurePass Guarantee work?
Standard and SurePass carry it. Score 80%+ on one full-length mock, sit the real exam, and if you don't pass we refund what you paid. On SurePass, clear two mocks with your readiness meter at "Getting close" or above and we also pay your full $140 retake fee. A refund also comes with free access to keep preparing — 90 more days on Standard, another year on SurePass. Starter carries no refund — don't pass, upload your score report, and we add 30 more days of access, free. Every free period is counted from the earliest date your exam allows a retake. You file the claim in your study portal with your official score report.
Which pass should I buy?
SurePass, for almost everyone: today it costs the same as Standard, it runs a full year, and it is the only pass that pays your retake fee if you don't pass (and adds another year free). Standard is a month of access with the Money-Back Guarantee — a refund plus 90 more days if you don't pass. Starter is one week of access with no refund — don't pass and you get 30 more days free.
Are the questions like the real exam?
They're written to HSPA's CIS content outline and weighted to it, so a mock is the same shape as the real thing: 150 questions and 180 minutes, across all six sections.
What happens when my pass expires?
Your progress is kept. You can upgrade at any time and pick up exactly where you were — and upgrades always credit what you already paid.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes — everything syncs across devices, and the reader, flashcards and practice all work on a phone.
Is there an online course for the CIS?
Not from HSPA. Their own CIS page states: "Online/distance learning courses are not available for the CIS." For the CRCST they list Purdue's course; for this exam that option doesn't exist. Self-study is the route, which is exactly what this is built for.
Do you offer refunds if I change my mind?
Yes, separately from the pass guarantee: 24 hours on Starter, 48 hours on Standard, or 72 hours on SurePass, measured from your purchase (or from your upgrade, if you upgraded) — no questions asked, as long as you haven't sat your exam yet. EEA and UK buyers also keep their 14-day statutory right. The SurePass Guarantee is the other promise — that one is about your exam result, not about changing your mind.
Do I need HSPA's manuals?
No — HSPA itself states that no study-material purchase is required to sit the exam, and that its Certification Council does not develop, require, approve or endorse any specific training materials. The exam is written against HSPA's Instrument and Technical Manuals, and our study guide covers that same outline in plain language. Some candidates like having the manuals as a reference too — that's a fine way to go.
My exam date moved. Does the plan adjust?
Yes. Change the date and the Game Plan rebuilds around the new one — it works backwards from your date, so moving it forward compresses the plan and moving it back spreads it out.
Have questions or concerns?
A real person reads every message and replies by email.
Ready to start?
Standard and SurePass carry the CIS guarantee — SurePass pays your retake fee too. Pick yours and keep the whole system open.
From $59 · Starter, Standard or SurePass